The Rainy Seasons in Kenya and When to Plan Safari, Beach, and Trekking Trips

Kenya has two rainy seasons, which can impact on safari, beach, and trekking trips

It’s important to understand the weather in Kenya to help you plan the best possible holiday. You naturally want to ensure good game-viewing weather if going on safari, favourable conditions for any beach, island, or diving getaway, and safe trekking conditions if climbing Mount Kenya or doing any other hiking in the country.

So let’s look first at the seasons in Kenya overall. I then discuss the weather patterns relating to each type of holiday activity in turn. Armed with the knowledge, you’ll feel equipped to choose the best time of year for exploring Kenya with respect to your personal preferences and chosen destinations.

The two rainy seasons in Kenya

The two rainy seasons in Kenya are:

• – The long rains of April to June
• – The short rains of November to early December

With that being said, please do note that Kenya is a big country with incredibly diverse ecosystems. For instance, you have a hot and humid coastline, interior mountains with snow-covered peaks, a desert in the far north, and an enormous lake lying within the East African Rift system. All of these regions and others besides have their own climates and weather patterns. And the weather in Kenya is, overall, unpredictable and changeable. So it would be unhelpful to think of its weather in terms of hard-and-fast wet and dry seasons. At high altitude in particular, it can rain at almost any time.

So depending on where in Kenya you go on safari, different weather norms will apply.

Note that the rainy seasons have their perks. So we’ll discuss what those are and how the rainy seasons in Kenya might actually suit your travel plans.

How the rains affect Kenyan safaris

The long rains of late March to May are the least popular safari season in Kenya as they can make park roads impassable. Some parks will even close their gates as a consequence. It’s also obviously harder to spot wildlife when it’s raining or there’s thick haze. Furthermore, when the grass grows tall and the vegetation becomes very thick, wildlife is harder to spot. And finally, the animals are also more spread out as there are more water sources, so they don’t have to congregate at a few dwindling watering holes.

For all of these reasons, I wouldn’t suggest those who’ve travelled far for a safari experience book their trip during the long rains. While there are certainly advantages to rainy season safaris, which I discuss in just a moment, it’s just perhaps too risky if this is likely to be your one-and-only African safari or something like that.

The Best Seasons for a Kenyan Safari

Most international visitors head to the famous southern and central game reserves of Kenya, like Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Samburu National Park.

For the Masai Mara, most visit in September or October as this is when the Great Migration herds cross the Mara River from the Serengeti into the park. Note, however, that the herds are in the Masai Mara for longer than that – you can visit during the short wet season and still see them, just without the crowds. What’s more, the Mara River crossing season has become very busy, so if you’d like to be a more conscientious traveller by helping to lessen the environmental footprint of tourism while also spreading out its economic benefits, visiting during the short rains is a great decision.

The two dry seasons are the optimal seasons for all of the other game parks in the country in terms of seeing as much wildlife as possible. Note that the dry seasons in Kenya are:

• – The long dry season of June to September, which is peak season
• – The short dry season of January to early March

You might, however, consider doing a safari during the short rainy season, for a few reasons which I’ll discuss below. It’s only the long rainy season that’s really risky in case a park’s roads become unpassable. The only major park I’d perhaps say should definitely be visited during a dry season is Amboseli. This is because you want no rain or haze so that you can see Mt Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania clearly, like in the photo above.

Amboseli aside, here’s why I wouldn’t necessarily rule out the short rainy season in your Kenyan safari planning …

Reasons to consider a rainy season safari

There are various valid reasons to consider choosing one of the rainy seasons for your Kenyan safari:

• – Many accommodations, tours, and activities are markedly cheaper during the low season.
• – You enjoy quieter safaris, sharing the park and wildlife with fewer vehicles and visitors.
• – The landscape is rejuvenated by the rains, making it greener, softer, and prettier, as seen above in Samburu. The wildflowers offer wonderful colour.
• – The rainy seasons bring towering clouds, intense sky colours, and sheets of rain that add sparkle to the landscape. All of this is magic for photographers.
• – Peak birding season in Kenya falls between October and March, as this is when migrant species are on the scene. So the short rainy season of November and December has strong birding appeal.

Most of Kenya’s national parks and reserves remain open throughout the year, even during the long rainy season. But some do close, or at least their lodges do, while others will close when road conditions become untenable. So it’s important to always check on specific parks before planning a rainy season safari in Kenya. If you’re considering a rainy season safari for one of the reasons mentioned above, it might be safer to book your trip during the short rains.

Best seasons for beach and diving holidays in Kenya

The east coast of Kenya is affected by two monsoon winds coming in off the Indian Ocean:

• – The dry northeast monsoon, which blows in from November to March or April, and is called the kaskazi
• – The moist southeast monsoon, which blows in from May to October, and is called the kusi

The biggest rains along the coast tend to come between April and June, as brought by the kusi. The months with the least rain are January and February. These are also the hottest months, with the air temperature often climbing above 30°C (86°F), which makes dips into the ocean all the more welcome!

The months that offer the best snorkelling and diving conditions are October, November, and March.

The rainy seasons and climbing Mount Kenya

Kenya offers many incredible hiking trails as well as some exciting multiday trekking opportunities. Most famously of all, folks come from around the globe to tackle Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa.

Experienced mountaineers head for the summit, Batian Peak (5,199 m), or the second-highest peak, Nelion (5,189 m). Those wanting a non-technical trek aim for the third-highest peak of Lenana (4,985 m), which also offers fantastic views.

Mt Kenya has notoriously unpredictable weather. Avoid the rainy seasons, if only because sometimes the mountain is closed to trekkers as the dirt roads leading into the park become undrivable. The best months for trekking Mt Kenya are mid January to February and then July and August, as they offer the most reliable weather.

As you can see, talking about Kenya’s rainy seasons and weather in general is not an uncomplicated matter! Key to making an informed decision about when to visit is deciding where in the coiuntry you want to visit, what sorts of activities you wish to do, and what matters most to you (for instance, is it budget or the least chance of rain?). Then make your plans, but after that, try to adopt a relaxed attitude of what will be will be. Weather is one of travel’s great variables, and it cannot be controlled. So a healthy dose of fatalism in this respect might not be amiss!

Note: This blog was first written and published by Leandra Slabbert on 23 January 2024. It was rewritten and republished by Megan Abigail White on 22 January 2026.